At Diamonds Ltd. Fine Jewelers, we believe educated customers are happy customers. We are very proud of the education we give to our customers as we know that with knowledge comes power. If you have explored loose diamonds or diamond engagement rings, you have likely come across the term “diamond carat,” one pillar of the 4 C’s of diamond education. Read on to learn about what diamond carat means and how it might affect your loose diamond or engagement ring purchase.
Diamond sizes and how diamonds are measured is the most commonly discussed aspect of any diamond. Diamond carat size is on many wish lists, and it’s in every headline when a celebrity gets engaged. But have you ever wondered what carat size really means?
Read below for a breakdown on the carat weighing system used for diamonds and why the weight of every diamond is unique.
Why Carats?
Carats (ct) are a unit of mass used to weigh diamonds, gemstones, and pearls. The carat is a very old standard of measurement that extends back to at least the 16th century for measuring diamonds. The carat probably has its origins in the carob seed used in Greek and Roman times as a standard form of small measurement. Even though we think of carat as a measuring the size of the diamond this is not the case. The carat is a weight measurement so the appearance of two stones that are both 1 carat diamonds can be somewhat different.
Today a carat is equal to 200 mg. This standard of measurement was adopted early in the 20th Century by the General Conference of Weight and Measures (Conférence générale des poids et mesures – CGPM). Interestingly, the CGPM, established in 1875, is the same organization that established the metric system and encouraged its adoption throughout the world for the standardization of all weights and measurements.
Each carat is divisible by 100 points, each weighing 2 milligrams. Prior to the standardization and adoption of the carat system different countries used slightly different standards of measurement for diamonds and gemstones making it very difficult to compare one stone to another without placing them side by side. The adoption of the carat meant that a diamond seller in Africa and a diamond buyer in Brussels could reach an agreement concerning a particular stone much more easily.
However, the carat system has its limitations because diamonds are shaped and cut differently. A 1 carat diamond can be cut long and deep and it will look visibly smaller than a diamond that is cut shallower. The different cuts of the stones, for example cushion, round, marquise, square, emerald or pear will also weigh different amounts because the cuts are different. In other words, how the stone is cut and its shape can have a dramatic impact on the presentation of the stone.
The size of a diamond dramatically influences its price. This is where the carat becomes a very valuable tool. Larger diamonds are rare compared to smaller diamonds so the price per carat substantially increases based on the weight of the stone. For example, a 5 ct diamond may cost $45,000 per carat while a smaller stone less than 1/2 ct may cost $2,400 per carat for a diamond that is graded the same in all the other categories. For further information about diamonds and to see how stones in different sizes look, please use the free interactive tools on our diamond education page.
Find your perfect engagement ring from Diamonds Ltd. at our El Cajon, CA, showroom, or explore RingBuilder online here.
Connect with Diamonds LTD.
“Thank you Bob and Peggy Zwibel. My husband surprised me with stunning diamond earrings from your store for my birthday.
I absolutely love them!Lena, the store manager, and Elizabeth, were both extremely knowledgeable, helpful and patient through the entire process. I originally thought that I wanted a rose gold setting, however after seeing the beautiful stones, I realized that white gold would enhance the diamonds so much more.
My husband contacted Lena and she said absolutely no problem to bring them in and they would make the change. I got them back in half the time they said it would take. Wow! When we went to pick them up, the store was a little busy, but everyone was so attentive and oooh’d and aahh’d about how fantastic the diamonds looked when I put them on!! YAY! Aren’t I such a lucky lady!
Thank you to everyone at Diamonds Limited! We are customers for life!
I can’t wait for my next diamond surprise…too soon? :-)” — Deb B. on Yelp